Its kumkum's 36th week..or the beginning of ninth month...
Kumkum had been complaining of stomach ache..."sumit..aaah..phir ho raha hai.."
He makes her sit at the dinning chair..."baitho yahaan chup chaap.kuch nahin ho raha hai..ek toh mana kiya hai zyada der aise khade rehne ko...par tum toh kuch zyada hi hoshiyaar ho na.."
She sits down with his support and hugs him sideways..He hugs her softly.."kuch nahin hua hai..it was just a movement..samjhi?..chalo..chup chaap baith kar naashta karo.."
Wearing an apron over his suit, he runs behind aditi.."adooo?...beta..nahin...accha..listen to what papa is saying.."
She is running with a toy helicopter and then, goes to kumkum, lending her ear to her tummy.."bha..bhaiyya.."
Kumkum hugs her, though still, trembling in pain..
sumit takes aditi away.."adoo..beta..chalo..we'll have our breakfast..aur phir chocolate on r way 2 school..ok?.."
"promise?."
"promise.."sumit holds her in arms and makes her sit away.."Madhav kaka...please..aditi ko khilayiye..main abhi aata hun.."
Madhav kaka sits with aditi, telling her stories of fascinating places...
sumit moves to kumkum, who's still in pain.."kumkum?...chalo..utho..andar chalenge..ek toh..back problem se..its getting worse..let kar na..thoda theek lagega..aur...hum breakfast wahin kar lenge.."
She nods..Sumit supports her from back and holds her hand.."aaraam se..aao.."
They walk to their room and sumit makes her lie down on the bed..
*******************************************************************************
Sumit is engrossed in his laptop, when kumkum enters the study room, almost crying in pain.."su..sumit.."
He replies, without even seeing her.."haan kumkum...tum se letne ko bola tha na.."
"Bahut zyada dard ho raha hai..sumit..its started.."she cries..
He goes to her.."no.its just normal cramps...tum leto na baba..theek ho jayega kuch der mein..."
He takes her to their room, though she's constantly moaning in pain..
Coming out of the room, he panicks and calls Dr.Kirti..
"auntie..main..main.."He stumbles..
"haan tum sumit bol rahe ho..i know sumit.."she smiles..
"auntie..use pain shuru ho gaya hai...main..main ..i don't want her to get panicked like she got during aditi's time..isiliye..am ignoring her..aap please..use i mean...tayaariyaan kar dijiye..i am bringing her there soon..."
"ok..theek hai..aur..its good..usse mat hi kehna..warna pichli baar ki tarah..kahin ghabrahat se uska BP naa high ho jaye.."
"jee..thanks.."sumit ends the call..
"madhav kaka..please..jaldi se ek hot water bottle le aayiye.."he runs to her ..
***********************************************
"kumkum..main massage kar raha hun baba..ab itna toh control karna hi hoga na..??"..Sumit is doing accupressure on her back..
"aah..aah.."She is moaning..
"Bas yaar..itna naatak karne ki zarurat nahin hai tujhe..samjhi??.."He presses his back, moving his hand in circles....
She pushes him, crying "Main..main naatak kar rahi hun..haan..main naatak kar rahi hun.."
she clutches her tummy, sitting back on the bed..Sumit tries to approach her but she doesn't allow..
"Accha..accha suno meri baat.."he pleads..
"tum..tumse main keh rahi hun ki mujhe pain ho raha hai..tumhe sab jhooth lag raha hai bas..."she's sobbing badly..
He puts his arms around her.."kumkum?.."
"sumit..maine ek baar apna baccha khoya hai..(sob)..i don't want to lose it again.."
Sumit hugs her warmly.."pagal..aisi baatein kyun soch rahi ho?..main..main hun na?..kuch nahin hoga hamare bacche ko..theek hai?.."
She cries in his arms...Sumit wipes her tears...
"kuch nahin hoga..abhi ek kaam karte hain....tum let jao..hmm?..main..main tumhe aadhe ghante mein hospital le chalta hun.."
she lies back, almost screaming in pain...
*****************************************************************
"Bas..bas..thodi der aur..hmm?..kumkum?..you are listening no?..kumkum?.."
"aaaaahh.."she holds his hand tightly...
"bas..bas..kuch nahin hoga..himmat rakhna..."Sumit caresses her hair..
"sumit..i will be keeping her on epidural..abhi kuch ghante lagenge .."Dr.Kirti explains..
"Auntie...kuch bhi kariye...bas dard nahin hona chahiye use..pls..kuch kariye.."his eyes are getting moist on seeing her crying in immense pain..
"sumit..tu itna pareshaan mat ho..usko kya samjhayega.."she hits his head.."its a normal thing baba..."
"sumit sir..bahar aapki beti aayi hai.."a nurse calls...
"Adoo?.."Sumit comes out of the labor room...
"papa??.."Aditi is in tears.."mamma kahaan hain???"
He takes her in arms.."mamma yahaan hi hai..hum abhi chalenge mamma ke paas..hmm?..chalo..pehle papa ke saath idhar aao.."
*********************************************************************
"Sumit..ye le...iska new top..ok adoo?.."Dr.Rahul Grewal, Sumit's best friend says...
"laa..mera baccha aaj..naya top pehnega...and adoo..lets read whats written on it.."Sumit makes aditi stand up, with both hands, vertically upwards...
Changing her top, sumit reads.."ismein likha hai..i am a big sister now.."
Aditi looks at her top, after wearing it...Rahul folds her previous top...
Rahul kisses her cheek but, she frowns...She didn't like anyone kissing her, except her father and mumma...
Sumit takes her in arms.."say thankyou to chachu.."
"Thank.."she turns her face away, hiding in sumit's neck..Sumit laughs...
"Kumkum kaisi hain?..."Rahul asks...
"Epidural par rakha hai auntie ne..abhi main bhi gaya nahin hun.."He tells..
"epi..epido.."Aditi repeats...
Sumit kisses her and makes her sit on his desk...He opens his drawer and a miraculous choclate emerges out.."for my darling..."
Aditi is happy..She hugs sumit and begins nibbling her choco bar..
"Rahul..woh..Mr.Deshpande kaise hain ab?..."Sumit asks..
"Fine..theek hain.."He replies..
"good..accha..rahul..main..kumkum se milkar aata hun..wud u pls take care of aditi?..main tumhaare paas chod jaoon use?..."He asks..
"sure..i'd love her company.."Rahul grins..
"Thanks.."sumit kisses Aditi's cheek and leaves...
*****************************************************************************
"Better feel hua?.."Sumit holds kumkum's hands...
"Hmm..."she nods drowsily...
Sumit kisses her eyes.."bas..a little time is left..phir meri princess will be with me.."
"sumit.."she says weakly..
"Haan?.."He caresses her hair...
"sumit..i am sorry...mujhe..gussa nahin dikhana chahiye tha..."She closes her eyes, guiltily...
"Nahin pagal....its ok..i was ignoring u..tujhe bura laga hoga naa...actually.."Sumit continues..
"main samajh gayi...u didn't want me to panic.."kumkum holds his arm..
"kya baat hai..badi samajhdaar ho gayi hai?...meri company ka asar hai?.."He kisses her hand as she smiles...
"accha...ek pillow aur laga doon back mein?..epidural se dikkat toh nahin ho rahi hai?.."Sumit moves his hand at her back, feeling it...
"nahin baba..itni fikr karne ki zarurat nahin hai..."She smiles, holding her hand...
"Yeh lijiye...."He closes his eyes and puts her ear on her stomach.."suna aapne..she's so stupid naa...ab..bhi nahin samajh payi ye...ki mujhe fikr aapki hai...iski nahin...hai na baby..."Sumit kisses her tummy softly..
Kumkum smiles.."accha jee.."
"bas..ab jaldi se aa jayiye..aur mummy ko zyada tang mat kariyega..ok?.."
Sumit bends down to kiss her forehead...
*************************************************************************
Sumit is nervously pacing up and down the lobby...checking the time at regural intervals...
Kumkum's scream makes him shiver...His hands join together and eye close..."bas bhagwaan kumkum ko theek rakhna.."
Dr.Muskaan Grewal and Aditi are chatting at the other end of the lobby....Seeing his nervousness, Muskaan moves to him.."sumit??.."
"haan.."sumit looks lost...Muskaan bursts into laughter..."sumit...there's a limit...its a delivery yaar...itna tense mat ho tu..."
"tujhe toh har waqt mazaak soojhta hai...wahan andar kumkum...."sumit speaks but is interrupted by urgent calls..."SUMIT??......NURSE...??..."
Sumit and Muskaan rush to her..."Dr. Kirti..??.."
"Is...is she ok..??.."sumit fumbles...
"nahin...bleeding zyada ho gayi...weakness made her faint...sumit..chalo..we'll be going for a C-section...you two will be assisting me...chalo..jaldi..."
Sumit is tensed...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sumit kisses Aditi, who's crying.."mamma..."
"Adoo..my baby..aise rote nahin hain..u noe what just happened?...mumma ne zyaada chocolates kha li...aur woh bimar ho gayin..ab papa will go to treat her naa..?..Aap ro kyun rahe ho?...hmm?..dekho?..Chachu hain na aapke paas?.."
Sumit gives her to Rahul.."haan...aur chachu aur adoo will be having fun in the canteen..ok?.."Rahul wipes her tears...
"papa...mumma ke paas jana hai..."Aditi is adamant...
"adoo..idhar aao aapko ek secret baat bataoonga..."He takes aditi in arms, to another corner...
"pata hai...ur mumma will bring a little baby for you...aapki choti behen...aapko behen chahiye hai na?..."He wipes her tears...
"behen?...par..mumma toh market nahin gayi..phir kaise behen aayegi?..."She asks with innocent, even making Sumit smile ...
"hmm...baby market se nahin aata..baby toh bhagwaan jee denge na...jab mumma unse baat karengi...abhi humein mumma ko thodi der bhagwaan jee se baat karne dena hai..phir hum dono jayenge mumma ke paas aur apni choti behen se milne..ok?.."
She begins understanding...."phir hum choti behen toh bhi ghar le dayende na..papa...."
"Correct sweetheart.."He kisses her cheeks..
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Sumit's hands tremble as he renders a cut to her abdomen...Trying to concentrate more on the surgery, he closes his eyes...
"Sumit...jaldi karo...BP low hota jaa raha hai..."Muskan complains...
"huh...haan..kar..karta hun..."He makes a cut and blood oozez out..He gets terrified on seeing the blood.."kumkum..!!"
He is sweating badly...."kumkum...!!"
Kirti holds him..."Muskaan..isse nahin hoga...send Dr.Shubhankar instead..turant..main start kar rahi hun..."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Kumkum opens her eyes after a period of 5 hours...
"su..sumit.."she mumbles, gaining her conscience...
Sumit sits on her side, holding her hand.."kumkum..???"...
She smiles weakly...as he kisses her forehead....
"Jaldi..jaldi se..tumhaara blood pressure monitor kar lete hain...hmm?.."He checks her BP first...
"Ladka ..hai..ya...lad..lad..ladk..ladki..."She speaks..
"jo bhi hai..abhi ruk jao tum..kuch kehna chahta hun...zaruri.."He finds her BP still low and thus, injects her...
"kya?...baby..theek..theek hai..."She gets anxious..
"haan baba..everything's fine.."he sits again, holding her hand.."kumkum..."
Taking her hand to his lips, a drop of tear escapes his eyes.."I love you..."
"Sumit..??.."She wipes his tears..."Kya ...kya hua?..sumit..u ..u r sc..scaring me..."
"U scared me.."he cries even more...."i try to be the brave out of the two of us..."
"Jab..jab tum behosh ho gayi thi na..delivery ke waqt...jaan nikal gayi thi meri...ek..ek ajeeb sa darr ghar kar gaya..kahinn..kahin tumhe kho..kho na .."
He wipes his tears..."kumkum...mujhse Dr. kirti ne operation assist karne ko kaha tha...par jab..jab incision kiya na..toh...toh himmat hi nahin hui..."
"Ye surgeon Dr.Wadh..Wadhwa keh rahe hain..?"She smiles..
"Nahin..tumhaara sumit keh raha hai...sach kumkum....us ek pal..saansein ekdum tham gayi thin...agar tumhe kuch ho jata na....toh main...main mar jaata..."
"Sssh..."She stops him..."nahin."
"Tum...tumse aaj tak ..shaadi ke baad bhi...hazaaron baar behes ki...jhagde kiye...aur..even tumhe ulta-seedha bolkar takleef bhi pahunchayi...par kumkum...jo keemat tumhaari meri zindagi mein hai..wo keh naa saka...sab kuch kaha lekin...tumhare ehsaas ko lafzon mein bayaan nahin kar saka.."
She holds his hand.."sumit.."
"nahin kumkum...let me complete..otherwise i may not say it again...but...i love you a lott...tumhaare bina ..na hi jeene ka koi matlab hai...na hi maksad...pata hai...aaj main bhagwaan ko dhanyavaad deta hun...us haadse ke liye...jisne humein ek kiya..kehte hain na..jo hota hai..acche ke liye hota hai..."
"Ye sab baatein tum mujhe 103rd baar keh rahe ho.."Kumkum cries...
"Lekin i don't want to listen your replies..samjhi?.."He kisses her hand..
"Meri life ka toh "L" bhi tumse hi shuru hota hai..I..I love you.."He kisses her cheek...
They both hug each other for long...
"Sumit..??...Baccha.."She interrupts...
"Suprise...ADOOO...!!"
Aditi comes near them, holding a baby by Muskaan's support..."Mumma..."
"Congo..Beta hai.."Muskaan gives the baby to her...
Tears emerge from her eyes as she takes the baby in her arms..."Sumit..."
He hugs them and Aditi..
"ye mela bhai hai..Aditya.."Aditi tells them..
"oh..already named him?.."Kumkum kisses aditi...
"with our permission baba.."Sumit's mom and dad exclaim..
"mumma..papa.."Kumkum gets happy, seeing them..
After a hearty talk, they all retire to their respective rooms...Sumit hugs kumkum..."thanks...zindagi itni khoobsoorat banane ke liye..."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
2 years later...
"Nahin papa...main Adi ke saath hi soungi...bas.."Aditi holds Aditya's hand😆
"Meri maa...kyun ladki nahin hui doosri.."Sumit lets her go..
"Diddi chaath shounga..."Aditya speaks, holding her didi..
Kumkum chukles, tying her hair in a pony..
"ok big babies...aap dono saath so..goodnight..aur pls dono sote samay ek doosre ko pair mat maarna...sumit..kar ye dono mujhe ulte direction mein sote hue mile they subah.."
"Aditi mele saath nain soyega munna?.."He looks at her..
"Nahin..."She says sterny, hugging Aditya...
"Is aditya ne kya jadoo kiya hai meri girlfriend pe.."He complains to kumkum, hugging her after the children leave..
Kumkum slaps his face softly.."pagal.."
"Tumhaare pyaar mein.."He nuzzles her neck..kissing it softly..
"Soch raha tha..hmmmmmm...."He slowly nibbles her neck as she surrenders herself to him in the bed..
"kya..mmm.."She closes her eyes, feeling him kissing her back, opening her doris...
"Ek chutku aur...matlab...Adi aur Adoo ke baad..ek Advika ...kaisa rahega..."He starts suching her lobes..
"SHUT UP...!!"She pushes him away and hits him with pillow..He too does the same...
Finally they end up, tearing the pillow into numerous feathers...converting themselves into white ghosts..😆
"I love you.."He looks at her, with passionate eyes...
"I love you too.."She replies..and feels the touch of his lips on her...
Life has been blissful for them now..😳
The end....